A Craft Beer Legend's Journey: Wil Turner on Brewing Techniques, Trends, and the Pursuit of the Perfect Brew (Plus: Is Draft Beer Always Better Than Beer Out of a Can or Bottle?)

Chicago brewing legend Wil Turner shares his craft beer journey through breweries of all sizes, from California to Europe. Wil has significantly contributed to the Chicago craft beer scene at multiple breweries and served on the board of the Illinois Craft Beer Association.

02:54 Beer Myth: Is draft beer always better than packaged beer, whether it's in a can or a bottle? Katherine and Wil discuss the nuances of draft versus packaged beer freshness, the impact of proper handling, and their own personal experiences drinking their own beers on tap at different brewpubs.

09:20 Wil Turner’s Brewing Journey:. Wil walks through his craft beer journey, including his early experiences in Europe, California, and Michigan, and the creative progression from traditional styles to the innovative approaches that define today's craft beer culture. He discusses the transition from owning a brewing company to working for others, the lessons learned from financial losses in the business, and the balance between production brewing and the creative process of developing new beers. He also explores the importance of artistic freedom, the quest to brew the perfect beer, and the ongoing process of tweaking recipes to achieve excellence.

52:28 This Week in Bad Customer Behavior: Katherine thinks that changes in craft beer consumerism is making life harder for brewers in general — and Brian disagrees. They discuss the evolution of local breweries and how they've become multi-faceted entertainment hubs, hosting events like trivia nights, music bingo, and even pottery classes to attract a wider audience. And that leads to a hilarious conversation about how breweries are adapting to changing consumer trends, the role of gimmicks in the industry, and a plea to preserve the authentic craft beer experience.

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About Wil Turner: ​Wil Turner began his professional brewing career in 1992 at Seabright Brewery in Santa Cruz after a number of years of homebrewing and working in beer retail in Michigan and California. He moved to Chicago in 2002 to brew for Goose Island and later brewed for Revolution and Open Outcry, and has also served multiple terms on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. Wil is currently the new Head Brewer at Hailstorm Brewing Company in Tinley Park, Illinois, which you can learn more about at https://www.hailstormbrewing.com/

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In this episode, you’ll learn about: craft beer techniques, Chicago breweries, Will Turner, draft vs bottled beer, beer freshness, Illinois Craft Beer Association, European inspiration, Santa Cruz, brewing styles, artistic brewing philosophy, perfect pint, beer varieties, consumer trends, brewery ethos, gimmicks, authenticity, Hailstorm Brewing, Tinley Park, beer myths, draft beer supremacy, quality of draft systems, homebrew kits, Seabright Brewery, Merchant of Vino, English ales, traditional cask conditioning, evolution of the beer industry, the creative brewing process, Revolution Brewing, Goose Island, south side irish red, prairie madness IPA, kettle sours, barrel-aged stouts, flavor profiles, beer tasting techniques, real fruit versus flavor concentrates, palate cleansers, lactose in beer, brewing with adjuncts, hoppy red ales, local harvest beers, terroir, the changing landscape of craft beer, entertainment at breweries, trivia nights, music bingo, consumerism, local breweries, and communal beer culture.